SA-Brics trade needs new agenda

South Africa’s “highly
inequitable” trade
relationship with its Brics
counterparts was high on
the agneda when President
Jacob Zuma addressed
the Brics Business Council
Special Session for South
Africa in China at the
weekend.
This despite an increase in
trade between South Africa
and its Brics partners from
US$15 billion in 2010 to
US$31.2 billion in 2016.
Zuma said exports from
South Africa had been
driven particularly by raw
materials, adversely affected
by volatile commodity prices.
He called on the Brics
trade partners to help drive
SA’s industrialisation policy
by, amongst others, investing
in supply and development
programmes in Africa,
skills development and
technology transfer, and
also engaging in projects
that would support inclusive
development and equal
partnerships.
CAPTION
President Jacob Zuma addresses the Brics Business Council
Special Session for South Africa.